Flood them with prayers

This morning, Hillcrest buses and vans, loaded with high school students and many from staff, will leave the campus here in Fergus Falls and travel to Fargo, N.D. to help in the sandbagging effort.

I ask for your prayers as our neighbors to the west battle floodwaters.

This flood is near if not, in places, above historic 1997 levels.

At this time I recall a friend's battle with floodwaters from 1997. Her property that included her residence plus an upstairs apartment she rented out, was in an area that had been heavily sandbagged. There were sandbags along the river and surrounding her house. One night the city engineer in Wahpeton came to her and said, "Pat, I'm afraid you will have to leave your home. We've done all we can and you need to leave for your safety." The ground around her home was very soggy and it looked as if the river would win this fight.

She prayed and told the Lord, her home was in his hands and whatever his will was for her at this time, she would accept it. And she left to stay with a friend.

Within hours, she received a call from the engineer. She could return home because, miracle of miracle, the ground around her home was now firm. There was no leaking anymore of sandbags.

What an awesome God we have!

There are numerous school cancellations for the Red River Valley area. Roads are closed. And while all the attention is placed, right now, on the cities of Fargo-Moorhead and Wahpeton-Breckenridge, there are also numerous small towns and farms in the valley dealing with overland flooding and flooding from the river.

Again, please keep these people who live in the area and our school in your prayers.

They're home!

Julie, Nancy and Miss Aaleigha arrived in Fergus Falls Friday, March 6 about 5 p.m.
We had an opportunity to meet the new addition about 8 that night, when she was awake for her feeding.

Such a precious peanut, she is! She's captured our hearts and we welcome her with open arms into our family!

It was such a difference, though, holding Kian just hours before and then holding Aaleigha. Kian is almost a year and a solidly built boy who is soooo ready to take his first step! And then to hold Aaleigha who tops the scales at 4 pounds 10 ounces...well, what a difference! Pretty eyes!

Welcome to our family, Aaleigha! Soon enough she'll be battling with the boys! She may be small now but she'll catch up fast enough!

She's now met both sets of grandparents and uncles and aunty Nancy.

Nancy and Julie had great travels on the way back although they tell of some interesting travel experiences. Unique stories they will tell for years to come and share with Aaleigha as we all tell her of our first meetings and the joy and light she is in our family, as are all our kids, spouses and grandkids!

She seems to be adjusting okay to the Minnesota weather, also. Julie said the hospital staff in Houston were preparing Aaleigha with blankets and warm clothes. She reminded them that we DO have babies in Minnesota, too, and they do quite well! Well, little button has acclimated nicely. And, like the rest of us, is bundled against the cold.

We're supposed to get another snowstorm today so everyone is hunkering in for a daylong blizzard. School is closed and the boys are, of course, sleeping in! Must be nice!

On their way home!

Julie and Nancy are on their way home with little Aaleigha Mya.

Their first trek took them from Houston to Dallas and the second leg to Topeka, Kans. Aaleigha wasn't a happy camper about all the miles and they are playing each day by ear as to how far they go with Aaleigha.

I think the girls are enjoying the trek together and Nancy is such a great mom and is helping Julie with all the things we moms were learning as we started our parent journey. Blessings to them on their travels.

JP is back in Fergus Falls working although, because of the storm on the east coast, he couldn't come home as early as he'd originally planned. He ended up coming home after midnight on Monday (technically Tuesday) after he had to go to another airport in Houston that flies directly to Mpls. and blessings on Tim Jensen and his son who went to pick him up!

Meanwhile, I am watching the little ones for Wayne during the day (where DO they get that energy!).

And the saga continues with our family. While we've been thinking of, praying for and eagerly waiting news from the travelers, Andy sprained his other ankle at a basketball game on Monday. It's an upper ankle sprain and maytake him out for the season. He's learning new moves on crutches!

Jose helped Andy clean up at work last night. Thanks Jose.

I have been asked to judge the McLeod County Dairy Princess contest March 21 in Plato! Am looking forward to that. And Andy and Doug are planning a trip with a Hillcrest mission group to Chicago.

How come Doug gets all these trips to cities I would LOVE to visit?! I get to go to Plato. Don't get me wrong. Nice town. But they are going to see some great sites in Chicago!

The trip, seriously, will give these students a good worldview and some great discussions and Bible studies to and from Chicago.

They leave the day before my (Ah-Hum) birthday so another strange birthday for me. Last year we were in Mexico so I didn't get to see any family on my special day.

We will be celebrating my Aunt Adeline's bd on the 26th. She turns 80. Happy BD, Adeline. Blessings to you.

And blessings to our travelers.

Please keep them in your prayers for protection, guidance and wisdom with weather and travel conditions as they make their trek. They should be home Friday!

Texas travels for some

Nancy is heading south! 

She will be going to Texas at the same time JP will be flying to Mpls from Texas on Sunday. And, as JP starts his work week back at his Fergus Falls office, Nancy and Julie will start making plans for their travels to Minnesota. 

Julie has posted a note on Facebook that Aaleigha is on medicine to help with her reflux. She also has to sit up for 20 minutes after eating and will have to have a monitor (mini version) from three months to a year until she grows out of this reflux thing. She says on Facebook that it will take some time getting home because of her feeding schedule every three hours plus the 20 minute sit up thing, but the important thing is they will come home!!!!!!!

We are all excited! Finally this family can be home and start their new chapter together. What a blessing! 

I'll be with the boys while Wayne is at school during the day and we all will be there to help, if he should call, for the evening. I think some suppers with everyone who is around home, is in order! And maybe some meals sent home for when everyone is back, too, as everyone settles in. 

So, great news. A bit more adjustment, perhaps, getting used to monitors and feeding schedules, but how great to have everyone just home! 

Thanks, Nancy, for traveling to be with Julie on the ride home.

God's blessings on your travel and on J.P.'s as he makes the return trip to Minnesota and also on Wayne as he drives his brother back to Fergus Sunday night. 

Bradys and it has nothing to do with the bunch

There have been questions about Bradys, the episodes that little Aaleigha Mya has...I have received more information on this issue from JP so here goes...

Bradys is when the heart rate drops. JP said he'd understood it to be common in preemies. The hospital will now be giving her medication for reflux. As in this is usually caused by acid reflux. Who would've known. I told JP she's just like a Stender..like her Grandpa Stender, anyways, dealing with things like acid reflux but who would've thunk a wee one like that would have a rapid drop in heart rate because of acid reflux? And that they would name it Bradys?!

So they are starting her on medication and if she can go about five days without an episode, Aaleigha Mya can start the journey home about Tuesday or Wednesday. We're working out the details as JP has to return next week for work so either Nancy or I as of this time are set to fly down and drive back with Julie and the babe.

All are excited about this event!!!

If Nancy is able to go, I will take over watching the boys plus a little boy named Griffin that Nancy watches during the week for a friend. I think I need some strong vitamins! And excedrin! Just kidding.

For sure, whether I watch the babes in Fergus or fly to Texas to be with Julie and Aaleigha on the drive home, I will take next week off from work. Of course I have to finalize those plans with the boss but he's not at work today because of the storm.

In a way, I'd look forward to a trip to Texas. Anything to get rejuvenated with some warmer weather after all this snow and all this cold!

Will let you know if we get more news which I am expecting to receive tonight from Julie's messages on Facebook.

And any Stenders and extended family interested in joining our circle on Facebook? If you have questions, just e-mail me!

good and not so good news

We've heard from JP and Julie and there's great news and not so great news concerning Aaleigha.

She had the feeding tube removed and they are going to try to give her all her nutrition and feedings via the bottle.

BUT....

She had two bradys episodes the other day.

Please keep her in prayer that she can continue to gain strength and continue her great feedings AND that her episodes of periodic lowered heartrate will stop.

We are anxious for this family to get home! Aaleigha's feedings, maintaining her weight and regular heart rhythms are crucial to them coming home.

Even though half of us have colds and won't be able to see her immediately, knowing she's home will give everyone great comfort and a time when this young family can start this new chapter of parenthood together with family and friends surrounding them!

Thanks.

Stenders get a GIIIRRRRLLLL!!!!!

Jp and Julie are now the proud parents of a girl, Aaleigha.

The two completed the home study process and paperwork needed for adoption before Christmas. We'd all thought they would be adopting by June or July but the Lord had other plans. He had children to touch their hearts in January and February.

The first call they received for baby boy had them buying blue. Unfortunately, that process didn't work out with the birth mother wanting her little one to be with family.

We've all prayed for them and knew the Lord had a special little one just for them. And sure enough, there was a little girl in need of parents and JP and Julie need a little girl ... The whole Stender family, in fact, needs more girls. In our family, we have four boys and Wayne and Nancy have two boys so a little girl to spoil and protect is just what was ordered!

She's in Houston and, they found out, a preemie. She was about six weeks premature. A little tyke! I don't know what her actual birth weight was but just last week, she weighed 4 pounds five ounces! She's developing more each day...eating more...getting stronger. It's a struggle to eat so much (is 30 millileters a lot? it is for her little body but she's doing it) and to gain and maintain her weight.

I was over 4 pounds when I was born and, well, I gained, obviously. It all takes time.

So JP and Julie are in Houston and had a visit from Wayne and Nancy. they were able to have some good visit time together and see a bit of the city, too. That was a nice break since JP and Julie had been spending all their time at the hospital when they weren't sleeping at the hotel! So great they were able to regroup and get refreshed with a visit from family.

And so we join the Heins in welcoming Aaleigha Mya to the family.

Welcome, Aaleigha and hurry home!

Please keep this little one in your prayers that she gain and maintain her weight and continue her good eating habits so she can get stronger!